Stepping Outside my Comfort Zone: My Journey Into YCR’s Dragons’ Den

Hello YCR readers! Ella again. 

Today I will be talking about my experience with YCR’s of Dragons Den advocacy challenge. The competition is based on the TV show Dragons Den in which participants compete for funding on their product pitches. With YCR we instead pitched advocacy campaigns and unique initiatives. We had to come up with a creative and effective nationwide campaign which will allow YCR to grow its reach and expand its base. 

When the competition was first brought up on our initiation week I was nervous. The idea of presenting a campaign to a panel of influential and seasoned executives was nerve wracking. I hated the thought of standing up there in front of everyone to try and win a competition. Competitiveness is always something I have shied away from in the past. Even in school when it came to the idea of putting myself out there to prove myself as the one deserving of any sort of prize I was put off immediately. So when Dragons Den came along as a mandatory project I was instantly deterred. Sure I could just get up there with a team and say whatever they wanted, half-effort it without fear of losing because I simply didn’t care, but that’s not my style. If I’m doing something, I want to do it right. 

As the date of the event grew closer I began to wonder how I would present my idea. Sure I had ideas and plans for YCR but that would mean I would have to stand up there independent of my peers. As I was talking with my colleagues about Dragons Den, I wondered if I could join their group. I thought I could help them advance their idea and I wouldn’t have to be as nervous about being by myself, it was a win-win situation. Excited about the idea of joining a group and sharing the spotlight I asked them outright. “No” was the immediate answer. I tried convincing them, bartering and begging but they would not budge. The reason for her rejecting me wasn’t that she didn’t want to team up, it was because she knew my independent project for this summer would be the perfect pitch and in her words, only I could do that justice. 

At first, I was dismayed,  my plans had been shattered and the nerves kicked in, but now I look back and I am very thankful to her. It takes a true friend to understand that her peer was simply looking for an easy escape and needed a push to fulfill her potential. 

So, I got started on planning my pitch. I knew I didn’t have a way out anymore and I was determined to put my heart and soul into my concept. My idea was simple, YCR needs to expand its outreach past the white-collar sector and into the skilled trades. Throughout this summer I have learned a lot about the energy sector in Alberta but it was mainly office focused. Here my campaign was born; Embracing the Skilled Trades from Sea to Sea. I saw a need to bridge the gap between the work environments and to showcase the opportunities for young Canadians to get a job in the energy sector. 

I wanted to outline the jobs available to those who want to pursue skilled labour. These jobs open the door to many possibilities, whether you wish to do hands-on work your entire life or whether you aim to switch paths in the future. I wish for YCR to aid young Canadians in understanding all jobs available to them and the different paths they can take to get there. 

So! I contacted blue-collar workers across all sectors in Canada. I was astounded at the range of jobs available in the action separate from the academics and office work encouraged by most advisors. I petitioned a campaign that would interact with all provinces and territories to allow for true representation of all workers in our natural resource sector.

The more I researched and talked to people, the more motivated I was to make this campaign a reality. 

I went above and beyond in my project with a folder of written proposals, examples of the work I would be doing, and an engaging speech to tie the slideshow together. 

The whole experience was exhilarating. The venue was beautiful and the general support between peers was heartwarming, we all wanted each other to succeed. I was the first to go (and encountered microphone issues), but I pushed through and delivered my presentation in a passionate and engaging way. The whole time I was shaking, but at the same time,  I was so proud of myself for pushing through and creating my own vision for YCR. 

As I sat listening to the other groups, I reflected on the experience. I knew no matter where I placed I was proud of the work I had put in and the push it took to overcome my stage fright. 

Although I didn’t come first, I placed top three and I was very happy with the effort I had put into it and the perseverance I showed. 

I would recommend anyone to take part in YCR’s Dragons Den! It is daunting at first but I promise you it is a supportive environment and the pride you feel in your work makes it worth it!